A Christmas Carol. Where: Tri-State Actors Theater, 74 Main St., Sussex. When: Through Dec. 30. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. How much: $18 Thursdays, $27 all other performances. Seniors $25 and students $17. Call (973) 875-2950 or visit here.
Tiny Tim isn't so tiny in this version of "A Christmas Carol."
In fact, at the Tri-State Actors Theater in Sussex, he looks as if he could be in graduate school.

It's all part of the fun, though, in Christopher Schario's take on Dickens' famous novel. Schario starts the show by having five people just sittin' around at Christmastime, each in his own home, reading "A Christmas Carol." Then each breaks away from the book and just plays the parts he likes. So tall and trim (and excellent) Philip Mutz can portray Tiny Tim, because it's only in his imagination, anyway.

Interesting, isn't it, that none of the five sees himself as Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser extraordinaire? That's all right, because Tri-State artistic director Paul Meacham is happy to take the role. Sussex audiences should be equally happy to have him, because Meacham brings a great deal to the role that others around the state haven't found during this holiday season.

Many Scrooges wait until the end to show any humanity. Meacham doesn't, though Schario gives him a line that helps. When his nephew Fred (a charming Clark Gookin) says that he got married because he fell in love, Meacham's Scrooge mutters, "because you fell in love" in a way that he intends to be mocking -- but there's an unexpected softness in there, too, as if Scrooge is suddenly remembering his own lost love. This gives him a head start on his ultimate atonement.

Meacham shows a wondrous delight when he's whisked back to the past (by the exquisite, erudite, and confident Sarah Koestner). He makes a theatergoer believe that he's genuinely returned to days gone by, and very much in the moment of remembering his less complicated life of years ago. How endearing he is during these moments.

Still, Meacham does err twice. Early on, in editorializing on the mental capacity of the poor, he twirls a finger around his ear a few times to indicate that they're crazy. That gesture seems decidedly anachronistic for 19th century London.

Then, during the redemption scene, Meacham makes his biggest mistake. Though Scrooge is supposed to see that his life of stinginess has been ill-spent, Meacham seems to be operating out of fear, that he'll straighten out and be generous only because the punishment would be too terrible if he didn't. That's not the message of the show.

Perhaps Meacham simply overextended himself, because he functions as director, too. He's done an especially good job in the breakup scene between Young Scrooge and Belle. Jenelle Sosa excels in showing a young woman who realizes, however reluctantly, that she mustn't marry someone who's less interested in love and marriage than in shillings and pence. Philip Mutz is appropriately clueless in not seeing what the problem is between them.

On the other hand, perhaps Meacham was just a bit too busy to notice that Clark Gookin was over the top as the Ghost of Christmas Past. The place for a Christmas ham is on a table, and not on stage.

Be apprised that this is the shortest of the "A Christmas Carols" that New Jersey's professional theaters are currently offering. It's less than 90 minutes, and that even includes a generous intermission. So if time is tight, and you'd prefer a theatrical dessert to a full entree, here's the "A Christmas Carol" for you."

Peter Filichia may be reached at pfilichia@starledger.com or (973) 392-5995.